Abstract
The graded index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) has been proposed as
the transmission medium to realize high-speed information transmission. We
have succeeded in fabricating a GI-POF by the coextrusion process, a method
that allows continuous fabrication of GI-POF. Although it has been indicated
that the refractive index distribution of GI-POF fabricated by this process
is formed by Fick diffusion with diffusion coefficient dependent on dopant
concentration, the method to control it remains unknown. The purpose of this
paper is to establish the technology of controlling refractive index distribution
in GI-POF fabricated by the coextrusion process. Therefore, we investigate
the physical mechanism of the dependency of diffusion coefficient on dopant
concentration. It has become clear that the dependency is affected by the
decrease of glass transition temperature and the nonlinear increase of melt
flow rate. Moreover, through simulation of dopant diffusion by our originally
developed program, it has become evident that changing the molecular weight
of the core and cladding material allowed control of fabricating a GI-POF
with optimal refractive index distribution by this fabrication method.
© IEEE
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